Compare towns
Cavendish vs Olean vs Ludlow vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Cavendish | Olean | Ludlow | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
1,664 |
1,990Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Olean and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S. |
$673±$150 52% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.